trailing wire - TACAMO Community Veterans Association

TCVA Summer Newsletter 2013 !
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TRAILING WIRE
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Hall of Fame Inductees
“Paver Ceremony”
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2013 Reunion Team
Meet them in Seattle
Reunions are all about gathering the old gang together to share
stories, reminisce and reconnect with shipmates, friends, and
make new friends.
While these much-anticipated gatherings generate enough
memories for years to come, those who do the planning know
that a reunion event doesn’t just magically happen. They take
months of planning and lost of legwork. Sometimes the
logistics can be overwhelming---hotel arrangements, collecting
money, ordering keepsakes, transportation, venues to attend and
tons of other details.
For help in piecing the puzzle together, a team was put together
in Seattle. Allow me to introduce you to our Seattle Team:
Millard and Martha Battles
Pam & Larry Valdez
Paul Collins
Joshua & Gary Stueck
Dick Cihak
Al Zarb
Jim Bunt
Erin Lahti
Lisa Zahnle
Maybelle Brickley
Bob Borst
On June 7, 2013, The TACAMO Hall of Fame was unveiled by
Captain Charles "Chocko" Baker and Vern Lochausen in front
of the nose wheel of 348 on static display in "Herc Park" at NAS
OKC. The inaugural Hall of Fame inductees (Class of 2012)
each had an inscribed paver proudly displayed, there. In
attendance were several family members of HoF inductees.
Vern Lochausan’s, TCVA President, remarks are as follows:
“The ceremony is about the vision that several of us had for a
recognizing those folks associated with the TACAMO mission
who had a vision that they turned into intentions and acted those
out well in dedicated service of lasting value.”
The largest group of HoF members, those fine gents of
TACAMO Pacific Crew 4, had the intention to assume the
guard and fly another mission linking national leaders to the
submarine forces. They are remembered to day for their
dedication for they gave all to the mission. “By their actions,
they made sure TACAMO thereafter operated and trained to be
SURE no crew was ever lost again.”
Continued on page 10
Many thanks to this wonderful team to make the 2013 Reunion
happen.
TCVA Board of Directors
Links – tacamo.org – oldtacamo.com – tacamo.navy.mil – navytimes.com
TCVA Summer Newsletter 2013 !
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LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Mike Vos
WOW !! What a terrific year we've had. From last June's reunion and Hall of Fame
Induction at NAS OKC to the upcoming reunion in Seattle, sponsored by Boeing.
When Bill Crowell (aka Buff), Barry Coyle, Lyn Zepik, Frank Forrest and I sat down
in Buff's basement rec room to create the TACAMO Survivor's Association in 1997,
we had grand visions of attaining this size and scope of a non-profit organization. Now, that vision is in full view.
Mission Statement
The purpose of the
Association is to
provide fraternal, social
and recreational
activities for the
members and guests
and encourage and
support the
preservation of the
history of TACAMO.
TCVA Board
TACAMO Veterans
Community Association Contact Info:
[email protected]
5144 Waterloo Road
Burlington, KY 41005
Vern Lochausen
President/Historian/Life Member
[email protected]
Mike Vos
Executive Director & Webmaster
[email protected]
Jim Gallagher
Vice-President/Store Manager &
Communications
[email protected]
Rick Cotter
Treasurer
[email protected]
Cheryl Vos
Reunion/Event Planner,
Executive Secretary &
Newsletter Editor
[email protected]
Brian & Angie Gunnell
Membership
[email protected]
Social Life
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
In June of 2012, Captain Baker and TCVA President, Vern Lochausen looked long
with creating the TACAMO Hall of Fame and Heritage Center. It's vision is to
commemorate and honor the fine shipmates that helped develop the technology and
community that we all share. This June, Chuck 'Chocko' Baker and Vern Lochausen
unveiled the fist element of that vision with a ceremony displaying pavers around the
nose wheel of 348, on static display in Herc Park at NAS OKC. Each paver is
commemorative of each of the 2012 TACAMO Hall of Fame Inductees. Family
members received replica tiles to display proudly. Each year, another 5 pavers will
be added for future inductees. We are working toward a home for the memorabilia
and artifacts that we're collecting for the TACAMO Heritage Center.
As part of the Hall of Fame induction, VQ-3 Crew 4 was memorialized. We had
the good fortune to connect with the family of RMC Aubrey Russell, who died in
that tragedy. Since then, we have been able to locate all but three of the other
families and share with them our respect and appreciation for their loss.
We have our 501c3 application, in process. Making your contributions to the Hall of
Fame and Heritage Center 'tax exempt' for us and 'tax deductible' for you. This
should enable us to begin getting the donations necessary to develop Chocko's and
Vern's vision of the THC.
With the announcement of our upcoming reunion in Seattle, Pam (Vaughn) Valdez
worked to secure Boeing's sponsorship of several of our events. An entire morning
touring the Renton Plant, where the E-6's were built, an evening “Welcome
Reception” and an evening gathering over pizza, plus the Awards Banquet on
Sunday evening. Thanks, Pam!
This past Memorial Day weekend, the TCVA Board of Directors met at President
Vern Lochausen's home near Pax River, MD. We spent the entire Saturday
reviewing challenges from the previous year and determined approaches to them. We also mapped out programs for the near future. We plan to release them to the
public, soon.
Sitting around Vern's dining table brought me back to that Saturday sitting in Buff's
rec room. Five shipmates brought together by their common TACAMO experience,
working to make a more cohesive community. The faces have changed, but the
passion is still the same. I'd like to thank Vern Lochausen, Jim Gallagher, Cheryl Vos
and Rick Cotter for stepping up and being a part of this terrific team.
I'd also like to thank you all for the support you give and the fellowship you bring to
our community. It's not a community without you.
I hope to see you all in Seattle,
Mike
Search & Connect Team Update
Since our team began last year, we have found 2012 Hall of Fame Inductees families except
for the following TACAMO sailors:
★AT1 David Allen Buck, VQ-4 born in Virginia
★AE1 Monte Nichols, Crew 4 born in Nebraska
★RM2 William Juergens, Crew 4 born in Montana
★AT2 Daniel Miner, Crew 4 born in California
Links – tacamo.org – oldtacamo.com – tacamo.navy.mil – navytimes.com
TCVA Summer Newsletter 2013 !
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TCVA Members Benefits by Mike Vos
A few months ago TCVA (a nonprofit association) made a change in our membership program. We moved from a totally free and
open website to a three tiered program. "Guests" have very limited access to who and what we are. "Casual" members can share
their information for FREE. And, "Active" Members get access to the entire TCVA website and can share and participate in a
variety of ways for a mere $20 per year. That's about the price of a case of beer, to put things in terms we all understand.
It's difficult to place a value on the different benefits that membership in our association provides. But, I hope it's easy to see the
value our association adds to your life through the sense of history and community that we bring to you.
The TCVA staff are all volunteers and work without compensation. It's a 'labor of love' for us to run an online store that brings you
the memorabilia and stuff that shows we're an extended family. The reunions don't just organize themselves. Imagine throwing a
party for 100 people over five days in a far off city. Lots of time is invested in researching and writing the newsletter articles that are
read by you.
We're not asking that we be compensated for our efforts. As I said, this is a 'labor of love'. What I am asking is that you show your
support for our efforts by becoming an "Active" member. Your annual $20 dues helps to pay for our website space lease and
domain name, our costs for researching future reunions, 501c3 application ($850) and
inventory for the Paraloft online store.
We plan on someday creating a public home for our memorabilia and artifacts that are
examples of our shared history. The TACAMO Heritage Center is currently a concept. It will take real effort and money to make it a reality.
Someday, we plan for a Scholarship Fund, to help our children and grandchildren get the
kind of start in life that we got from the Navy. They won't have that advantage like we did,
as the Armed Forces is being scaled down. This is our way to 'pay it forward' to the next
generations of the community.
Your "Active" membership in the TCVA is your investment in our collective history that
we try to keep us all in touch with. I thank those that have made that investment and
encourage all others that appreciate the value that TCVA brings.
Sailors stepped up, saved lives after Okla. tornadoes hit by Mark D. Faram
Glenn Erkenbrack was behind the wheel of his pickup, heading home
to South Oklahoma City from his job with the Navy’s Fleet Air
Reconnaissance Squadron 3 at nearby Tinker Air Force Base.
It was 2:45 in the afternoon on May 20.
A 19-year Navy veteran and senior chief
naval aircrewman, he grew up in the
Oklahoma City area. The violent storms and
accompanying tornadoes that often rock the
city aren’t strange to him.
“I’d seen tornadoes before, but I’d never seen
anything like this,” Erkenbrack told Navy
Times. “Who would have imagined we’d have
two category EF-5 tornadoes in two weeks?”
As the storm passed just a mile south of him,
moving from west to east, he could see it
kicking up debris — and he knew the damage
would be extensive. He didn’t hesitate — heading off in his truck,
following the storm’s path. “It was pretty obvious to me there would
be a lot of damage,” he said. “I knew it was a populated area and
wanted to see if I could help.”
His reaction wasn’t unique: Sailors were among the first responders
during and immediately after the two storms, with one saving three
would-be victims trapped in their cars on May 31, in the wake of the
second tornado. Hundreds more volunteered in the hours and days
following the disasters, helping shipmates and the community at large.
“The magnitude of the devastation is mind-numbing,” said Master
Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) Mike Stevens, who
visited the city of Moore and the Navy units at Tinker on June 3. “I
can only liken it to a war zone.”
Reacting to disaster
Erkenbrack said he agreed with Stevens’ war analogy and
compared the damage and human toll of the storms to what he’d
seen on a yearlong individual augmentee tour in Iraq in 2007 and
2008. His trip into this Oklahoma war zone began May 20 with a
detour to avoid pounding hail. “I pulled into a car wash to get out
from under the storm and listened to the reports on the radio,”
Erkenbrack said. And that’s when he saw the tornado. “It was big
and black, really big,” he said. “Even having grown up around
here, this was not like anything I’d ever seen in my life.” Still, he
chased it — following it toward Moore, searching for survivors in
the rubble left in its path.
“Many people were in their storm shelters,” he said. “Many times,
we had to clear debris so they could get out — but seeing people
walk out from such complete devastation with only 24 deaths —
that was a miracle.” Working his way east, he eventually ended
up in Moore and found himself at Plaza Towers Elementary
School, where seven children were killed.
“You couldn’t even tell it was a school; it looked as if a bomb went
off,” he said. “We helped survivors get out of the rubble, and by
this time, volunteers were coming in from everywhere, so we
decided to regroup and found a command center.” Tired and dirty,
he said, the first thing he saw was “around 100 active and Reserve
sailors, ready to get to work — and nothing gets a senior chief
excited like seeing so many sailors ready to get to work.”
OKC Tornados continued on page 7
Links – tacamo.org – oldtacamo.com – tacamo.navy.mil – navytimes.com
TCVA Summer Newsletter 2013 !
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Evolution of TACAMO
by Vern Lochausen USN (Retired) Part 2 of 2
Hercs to Mercs. First arriving in 1989, the E-6 quickly changed the game for VQ-3. For the EC-130Q Hercules
operations which covered most of the Cold War era until 1991, a crew flying across the Atlantic or Pacific had to
carefully plan their fuel load and route of flight to ensure they could reach their destination while still completing
the orbit maneuver. Each mission was made more challenging by the Herc’s service ceiling being no higher than
most of the severe weather enroute, turbulence, icing, and strong winds as well as its range being limited to about
2,700 nautical miles. Too much icing, too much headwind, or too much maneuvering around thunderstorms, put
the ability to orbit and the destination at risk because of the limited fuel reserves. Further complications resulted
from the then lack of long range navigation systems and mission systems as well as long range safety of flight
communications. The challenges then were weather, fuel, navigation and communications. Further, while
pressurized, the Herc had hot spots and cold spots and plenty of vibrations and noise levels that meant ICS was
about the only way to communicate. After a 10.5 hour mission, anyone doing a lot of training with other
crewmembers were likely hoarse. The E-6 changed all of that. It brought the ability to fly from Hawaii to the West
Coast and back again on a tank of fuel. It was also air refuelable. It flew above the bad weather and brought
navigation and communications systems that ensured a crew knew their position with confidence always and were in
continuous touch with Air Traffic Control. Crew comforts included a full galley, 8 isolated crew rest bunks, sound
proofing at airline standards, and an airline head. The Merc re-opened the entire Pacific for basing, able to reach
the Far East and US West Coast from Hawaii. The TACAMO IV mission avionics suite, with all the TIP features
and some additional capabilities were transplanted into the E-6A. Pilots learned how to fly formation in heavy jets in
order to complete aerial refueling. They also proved that the big jet could orbit and get the VLF range that was
required. Taking off with less than full power on all engines and not the same power setting for all engines was
something unheard of in the Herc. So much thrust combined with a long swept wing made this a Merc reality. The
Merc carried more fuel than a fully loaded Herc weighed! Navigators learned how to run air intercepts with the
USAF tankers and Flight Engineers got increased responsibility for power settings and the entire flight deck crew
was more knowledgeable and better coordinated in flying the big jet. The Merc’s impact for VQ-4 was just as
powerful, opening bases and eliminating the same previous fuel, altitude, navigation, and weather limitations. North
Atlantic weather, the bane of the Herc at times, was mastered by the Merc. You just flew OVER it. The Merc also
brought a new challenge - relocation of the squadrons.
Cold War End Changes the Game. Just as the Merc enabled longer missions and safer more comfortable long
flights, the end of the Cold War brought an end to Continuous Airborne
Operations. TACAMO leaders inside the Pentagon were asked to
restructure the community in the face of this new operational posture.
The answers came by ending the use of many Air Force airborne relay
aircraft and replacing them with one E-6 flying in mid-CONUS. Basing
on the coasts made little sense anymore. Politics in Washington led to
purchase of land and building of all new facilities for TACAMO in
Oklahoma. The TACAMO Air Wing was born in 1992 in a nest was
well prepared for it. Coastal dets remained for alerts but everything else training, comm centers, personnel support, maintenance, families- all
moved to Oklahoma by 1994. TACAMO women by this time had served on aircraft carriers and afloat staffs and
built their career experiences, enabling selection of women to command TACAMO squadrons. No longer reporting
to Pacific and Atlantic unified commanders, TACAMO reported to the new joint Strategic Command
headquartered at Offutt AFB near Omaha, Nebraska. As the Wing stood up the same TACAMO leaders in the
Pentagon suggested one more notch up in the roles of TACAMO – the retirement of the Strategic Command
(formerly Strategic Air Command) Airborne Command Post and moving the mission to the E-6. In 1998, with the
cross decking of some of the Battle Staff Team compartment to the E-6A and a TACAMO-led reorganization of
the role assignments, the E-6B assumed that mission and another line of alert at Offutt AFB. The comfortable crew
Links – tacamo.org – oldtacamo.com – tacamo.navy.mil – navytimes.com
TCVA Summer Newsletter 2013 !
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rest provisions set up in E-6A were replaced by consoles from the EC-135 Looking Glass, including ones dedicated to
control of ICBMs. With a general or admiral flying on the ABNCP, TACAMO’s roles can include force direction and
management in additional to relay. The TACAMO IV VLF system was updated by a modular, solid state system and
a camera to monitor the wire retraction aft of the tail. A long ‘canoe’ radome was added to the top of fuselage to
accommodate the MILSTAR EHF satellite system. The E-6A’s were then called ‘slick backs’ while the Bs were called
‘hump backs’. Squadrons provided the ABNCP asset on a rotational basis while maintaining their traditional
TACAMO coastal missions. New deployment schemes were devised and TACAMO Sailors gained a new place of
duty at either the TACAMO alert det Offutt or at Strategic Command itself. In addition, CNO visited the Wing and
later designated Oklahoma City as a ‘homeport’ for Sailors, allowing credit for sea/shore rotation among TACAMO
and related units there. As the ABNCP mission proceeded, airborne
internet access via commercial satellite systems was added in 2004
along with a full ‘glass cockpit.’ The navigator’s role changed in this
period to more of what the original radioman Warrant Officers had
in the 60s. No longer on the flight deck, the Naval Flight Officer
serves as Communications Watch Officer and this role is also now
being filled by radioman-sourced Warrant Officers. The Navy
responded to budget pressures by decreasing the number of ratings.
The Radioman rating was merged with Internal Communications.
Then the former AT, AE, AMH, AMS and other aircrew ratings
were all combined in the AW rating. Training tracks have all been
revised to reflect a more general rating skill set. Morse code training has become a community-unique skill that is
being trained inside the community. TACAMO leadership found a way to further apply some of the E-6B capability
by serving in the later Iraqi Freedom era, providing an airborne comms relay support for ground forces. The Strategic
Command leadership found the E-6B without the kind of robust connections and flexibility that the new era of
Internet communications demanded. The E-6B Block I program was fielded in 2011, providing additional bandwidth
and computer-driven connection and onboard servers. The systems include the ability to conduct a secure video
teleconference and receive satellite television for worldwide situational awareness for the Battle Staff Team. The Block
I Initial Operational Capability comes up in 2014 and the system is evolving still. New bandwidth sources and ways of
moving messages, voice, data, and even video are coming. With the Mercs now over 20 years old, studies are underway
to see what that means to the future. Engagement has begun with the other strategic communications aircraft - the
E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) formerly NEACP community. Both jets are on alert together at
Offutt and joint development of some common systems is currently being explored. The E-4 carries a version of the
TACAMO IV VLF/LF comm transmit system.
Don’t Try This In Your Merc! As we look over how TACAMO has changed over the decades, here are some
interesting differences. In the early days with roll on/roll off comm vans, the Hercs carried all cargo at times. More
than one small car and several small boats have been moved on a TACAMO Herc. Even after TACAMO III came
along untold furniture, grandfather clocks, papa-san chairs, fresh fruits and flowers, English butter and adult beverages
from all over the world were hauled. Crews spent weeks on the road, with short alert periods spread out during a trip,
so they made 4 or 5 good ‘shopping’ and liberty stops. One TACAMO Herc in the late 80’s made a trip to NAS
Whiting Field where pilots are trained in an effort to help recruit the best for TACAMO. At 6,000 feet long, Whiting is
a place, like many other bases, that the E-6 just cannot go. As an airliner-derivative, the E-6 has a pressurized ‘lower
lobe’ compartment underneath the main deck. Here reside a good bit of avionics and storage compartments for
luggage, spares, and not much else. Crews still find a way to carry home the goodies they find on deployment. Merc
crews don’t see many deployment stops and they spend days on alert. They experience the pressures of Continuous
Airborne Operations only rarely in exercise periods. When 9/11 happened, they were airborne in an exercise scenario
and they performed in that real attack on America with distinction. Today’s TACAMO crew has different pressures
and more complex systems to work with, in addition to having joint crews when flying the ABNCP mission. The
number of subsystems, not to mention computer servers and crypto devices, are extensive compared to the Herc. All of
that makes a restart after a power interruption anything but a picnic. TACAMO Sailors are therefore still inventing
ways to more effectively operate the systems they are given and working with developers to make them even better.
This hasn’t changed from the beginning. TACAMO - Can Do!
Links – tacamo.org – oldtacamo.com – tacamo.navy.mil – navytimes.com
TCVA Summer Newsletter 2013 !
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DON’T WAIT!
REGISTER TODAY
Thursday 8/28
Tour Snoqualmie Falls, Boehm's
Chocolates & Chalet, Issaquah Brewhouse
& Issaquah Tour & Shopping
Page 6
R E U N I O N
DEADLINE
Reunion Rate Ends
July 26, 2013
Friday 8/29
Group Tour Boeing Renton Factory where Benefits to staying at DoubleTree
Hospitality Room in Presidential Suite
Paraloft for shopping TCVA items
E6 planes were built
Gathering place for events and activities
Talk Story - catch-up and share sea
Museum of Flight Tours
Price of $89 per night (Regular rate $139)
stories
Welcome Reception in evening
20% off DoubleTree Restaurants & Bar
Breakfast & Evening snacks & drinks
Banquet "Salute to the TACAMO Chiefs"
TACAMO Sailor History Bios
Free WIFI in Hospitality Room
Saturday 8/31
Board Room will host a place for
Walkers enjoy the one mile walking trail
Tour the Seattle area by motor coach
sharing your TACAMO history
around DoubleTree property and Lake
Spend the day in Seattle at shops,
museums, the market & landmarks
RESERVE YOUR ROOM TODAY
Evening Pizza Gathering & Social
1 Call the hotel directly at 206-246-8600 2. Call our 1-800 number at 1-800-222-TREE (8733) Sunday 9/1
3. Visit our hotel’s website for TCVA R2013 Reunion.
4. Group code TAC.
Day in Tacoma
Tour Museum of Glass & LeMay Museum
of Cars then stroll downtown Tacoma
Banquet & Silent Auction
TACAMO “Hail to the Chiefs” Banquet
5pm – 10pm
Monday 9/2
Cruise to Victoria on the Clipper
Or enjoy time at Emerald Queen Casino
Tuesday 9/3
Shopping or Casino or pack and relax
Wednesday 8/3
Depart for Eugene Oregan
Thursday 9/5
Tour Eugene & the Air & Space Museum
Enjoy the Willamitte Valley Wines
Friday 9/6
Day in Florence Visit the Sea Lion Caves,
Heceta Head Lighthouse, Siuslaw Pioneer
Museum & shop or just relax
Group Dinner with wine maker Aaron
Lieberman from Iris Vineyard.
Tours DEADLINE 8/7/2013
The men and women of TCVA
&
The E6 Boeing Group
request the pleasure of your company for a
TACAMO “Hail to the Chiefs” Banquet
Sunday, the first of September
social & silent auction at five o'clock in the evening
dinner at fifteen minutes past six
at The DoubleTree Hotel 18740 International Boulevard
Seattle, Washington
Key Note Speaker: TBA
Silent Auction Closes at seven thirty
~Menu~
Pacific Northwest Buffet
Caesar Salad, dressings Caesar & Vinaigrette
Antipasto Bar with Salami, Smoked Oysters, Cured Olives & Pickled Veggies
Oregon shrimp louie salad
Entrees served with Seasonal Vegetable Medley & Swedish Style Potatoes
Breast of Chicken with Dungeness Crab
Char-Grilled Salmon with Dill Cucumber Creme
Western Grilled Flank with Latin Barbecue sauce, carved in Room Dress code: Business Casual
Links – tacamo.org – oldtacamo.com – tacamo.navy.mil – navytimes.com
T C V A S u m m e r N e w s l e t t e r 2 0 1 3!
OKC Tornados
Continued from page 3
The word came down there were people unaccounted for in the
school, so Erkenbrack and some of the sailors returned to the scene
and went “room by room and brick by brick,” to ensure there wasn’t
anyone still in the rubble. He and the other sailors worked through
the night and didn’t get home until 7:30 the following morning. He
showered, changed into a clean uniform and headed into work. But
by the afternoon — with the help of a short power nap — he was
back at it, helping people sort through the rubble of their lives, trying
to salvage what they could.
It was a routine he would follow for most of the next week, as did
many sailors, including those whose houses were destroyed or
damaged.
Life-saving sailor
One of the many sailors who volunteered to help out in Moore was
Yeoman 3rd Class Travis Martin, who’s been in the Navy a little more
than a year and lives on base at Tinker.
But at 6:30 p.m. May 31, he was visiting friends in Bethany, not far
from El Reno, where the second mega-tornado hit. “We were
watching the news and following the tornado, and I went outside to
see if I could see it,” he said. “I’m kind of a storm chaser and have
always been interested in things like this.”
He didn’t see anything because of the intensity of the storm around
him. But when he got inside, he heard the twister had taken a turn
and “was heading southeast, toward Tinker,” he said. “So I got in my
truck and got on the highway and almost immediately found an
overturned car, so I pulled over to see if I could help.” As he left his
truck and approached the car, he could hear the couple in the car
calling for help. He later learned they had hydroplaned on the water
during a massive downpour.
“The windshield and both driver and passenger door windows were
shattered and gone, but both were still in their seats,” Martin said. “I
got down on the ground and helped him get free and pulled him from
the car and together we freed her — they were cut up from the glass,
but otherwise in good shape.”
A policeman arrived and told Martin he could go. Martin headed
back to his friends, but in the 30 minutes or so he’d been gone, the
streets of Bethany were now rivers, with 4 feet of water in some
places, he said. “It was such a heavy downpour and a slow-moving
storm that the flood was nearly immediate,” he said. “At one point, I
was directing traffic away from the flooded area when a driver either
didn’t see me or totally ignored me and drove straight into the mess,
and his car got swept away immediately.”
The current pinned the car against a guardrail, Martin said. The
vehicle was in danger of tipping over the rail, possibly trapping and
drowning the driver.
“I jumped in and let the current take me to the car,” he said. “I had a
rope from another guy with a [Ford] Bronco and was able to tie it to
the car, and he pulled both of us to safety.”
'Like bombs were going off'
Those whose houses are only damaged, even significantly, are able to
count their blessings. Such is the case for Aviation Structural
Mechanic 1st Class (AW) Michael Dansby, who rode out the storm
with his wife and mother-in-law, along with a shipmate and his family
who lived down the street. It was 14 people in a small shelter
designed to comfortably fit four, maybe five at most.
“It’s not the kind of situation where you put someone out on the
street,” Dansby said. “You make do with what you have — the best
you can.” No stranger to natural disasters, Dansby grew up in
Pascagoula, Miss. His grandmother died during Hurricane Katrina,
Page 7
and many in his family lost all their possessions. Hunkered down in
the shelter, Dansby said they could hear the tornado roaring around
them.
“It was so loud, and it sounded like bombs were going off all around
us,” he said. “It was noise like you just can’t imagine.” The toughest
decision was when to get out of the shelter, he said. When they
finally emerged, their house was damaged, but largely intact. “We
still had a house,” he said. “But just 80 yards away from here are just
slabs and debris — a lot of people only have slabs of concrete and
rubble around it.”
For now, while they’re trying to repair their house, they’ll live on base
in temporary housing set up by the command.
The stories of heroism and command outreach left Stevens “in awe”
during his June 3 visit. “It amazes me how our sailors perform when
challenged by adversity like this,” he said. “They really epitomize
everything we ask them to be, giving of themselves selflessly even
when some of them have just lost nearly everything.”
Who’s Who @ NAS OKC
Welcome Aboard
Left:
Strategic Communications Wing 1
and Task Force 124, Commander
Captain Heather E. Cole
Right:
Strategic Communications Wing 1
and Task Force 124,
Deputy Commander
Captain Brian McCormick
VQ-3 CO:
CDR Lonnie Fields Jr
VQ-3 XO:
CDR Rodney A Thomas
VQ-4 CO:
CDR Jeffrey Summers
VQ-7 CO:
CDR Kevin Snode
VQ-4 XO:
CDR Cedrick L. Jessup
VQ-7 XO:
TBA
"Fair winds and following seas"
Strategic Communications Wing ONE And Task Force 124:
Captain Charles Baker, VQ-3 CO: Commander
Clinton Smith VQ-4 CO: Commander Anthony
Barnes VQ-7 CO: Commander Mark Hustis
Links – tacamo.org – oldtacamo.com – tacamo.navy.mil – navytimes.com
T C V A S u m m e r N e w s l e t t e r 2 0 1 3!
Page 8
TA C A MO H IS TO RY
Reel Chow by Mike Vos
I had the distinct pleasure to fly with the unquestioned greatest Reel Operator of his time, AE-1 Ed Munger. There
was a saying, "there is no hunger when you fly with Ed Munger". It was nothing to have an early morning take-off and
be greeted shortly after, 'Seatbelts/Smoking' with multiple fried egg sandwiches or "Egg McMungers". I recall being
deployed over Thanksgiving of 1979 and Ed made Rock Cornish Game Hens, stuffed with wild rice in that tiny
convection oven. Not one hen per person, but two!
One time, we had an 'Oh God: 30' take-off out of Sondestrom, Greenland. All Ed could procure from the Air Force
Chow Hall were cold box lunches. I'd never seen Ed so disappointed with himself. He felt he should have prepared
better. Needless to say, he made up for it on the next leg of the deployment. Ed did this all on $16 per person per
deployment. Do the math, 8 legs was typical, Ed made 2 meals per flight. That's a buck a meal and we didn't need
but a snack on a 21 hour liberty. What a bargain. We all knew he was digging into his own pocket. We all offered
him more. But, it was a matter of extreme pride for him to have the best fed crew on the road. Thanks, Ed.
Certainly, the Reel Operators were an essential element of our mission. Stringing miles of wire and drag behind us,
safely, while the pilots turned that tight orbit was both science and art. But, there were several Reel Ops that were
culinary artists, as well.
On the other hand ... I recall flying with another crew whose Reel wasn't as motivated to please, gastronomically. His
specialty was his "Three Been Bake". It was reasonably tasty, but left a lump in my gut and we all shared our
personal aromas. Although not as tasty, just as memorable as Ed's rib-eye steaks, cooked to order in an electric
skillet, with a baked potato on the side.
I never had the pleasure to fly with JJ Caruso, but I understand that he rivaled Ed Munger, in his time. JJ has
attended nearly all of our reunions and has been the "Head Chef" at many of our picnics. JJ has shared some of his
recipes from his time in the "Hotel Lima", below are a few of them.
All you other Reels, feel free to send us your recipes and/or concoctions from the Galley. We're happy to share.
Email them to [email protected]
CHIX-TUNA SALAD
JJ’s Famous Salsa
12 1/2 oz. can chicken
6 1/2 oz. bag tuna in water
1/2 c. chopped celery
1/2 c. chopped green pepper
3 tbsp. minced onion
3 tbsp. pickle relish
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. of miracle whip
3 tbsp. Ranch dressing
3/4 tsp. Mrs. Dash seasoning
4 c. cooked pasta (any kind), cooled
2 1/2-3 lbs of plum tomatoes
1/3 of a medium size onion
1 8oz can of tomato sauce
3-5 jalapenos (depending on how hot you
want it)
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of worcestershire sauce
fresh cilantro (as much as you want)
Salt
Sugar
Place quartered tomatoes, jalapenos,
cilantro leaves and onions in food processor
and dice/chop/puree. In bowl add lemon
juice, worcestershire sauce, salt and sugar to
taste. Makes about 1 quart and will keep in
frig for about a week. Enjoy!
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Chill for about 1
hour. Serve with crackers or as a main dish.
*Add for variations: 1 cup frozen peas, cooked and
cooled or 1 cup shredded Colby or cheddar cheese or 2
medium diced apples and 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
minus pasta or 1/3 cup carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.
Black Bean Salsa
2 cans Black Beans (drained a bit)
1 sm. can White Corn
6-8 Roma Tomatoes, diced (or 1 can diced tomatoes)
1 Red & Green Peppers, diced
6 Green Onions, chopped
1 sm. Chopped Onion (If you like more onion)
2 Cloves Garlic, diced
1 Jalapeno, minced - optional
Chopped Cilantro (good handful)
1 can Green Chili’s (chopped)
1 tsp. Limejuice - optional
Mix all ingredients together in bowl,
then add lime juice. Refrigerate
overnight in covered bowl. Serve with
tortilla chips.
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T C V A S u m m e r N e w s l e t t e r 2 0 1 3!
Page 9
Paraloft
Hercs and Mercs
Back in December of 2012 Jim Gallagher, The Paraloft Manager embarked on a mission of finding a suitable vendor to
manufacture custom scale models of all our TACAMO aircraft, our beloved Herc and the new and improved series of
Mercs. If you have ever searched the internet for model airplane makers you know that there are pages of such listings, so
one by one they were researched and a short list developed. Websites were explored, pictures reviewed and most importantly
for those sites that provided it, and customer feedback was read. Eventually the list was narrowed down to five then three and
eventually we zeroed in on what we believed was the best two manufacturers and began the telephone interviews and pricing
negotiations.
And the winner is……. “Island Enterprises, Inc.”
Chris Jones, the owner of Island Enterprises, Inc. is a retired Air Force
Aircraft Maintenance SMSg with extensive experience with the C-130/
KC-130 airframes as well as many other aircraft. In March of 2002 Chris
and his wife Annabelle started Island Enterprises, Inc. in their small home
in Angeles City, Philippines. Since that time they have grown their work
force of over 50 talented workers and artists in facilities located in Guam,
Philippines and Arizona. With the emphasis on building their company on
high quality, they offer 100 percent money back guarantee to any customer
that is not ecstatic about the product they receive. In addition, they strive to
have the best customer service they can provide and we can attest that it is
the best we have seen. These are the principals that their company was built
on and continue to operate under.
Having built hundreds of C-130 models as well as other models in the past
Chris had a pretty good knowledge of the airframes, but you know the TACAMO birds are a rare breed of their own. The
models were built to 1/99 scale and pictures from every angle were
provided to show even the most intricate details such as windshield wipers,
pitot tubes and service doors. The paint colors are the actual PMS or
Federal Standard Colors used by the Navy. Over a period of months with
the help of some of our members, the process of fine tuning took place
until we were completely satisfied that the models were as close to true
replicas of the originals.
Through the Paralof our members ordered approximately 40 models at a
very special negotiated price with Island enterprises, Inc. In addition to
the exact replicas an extra benefit was added to the orders and that was
the ability to personalize each model the way you wanted it. For the Hercs
it was wing pods or not, TAC III, TAC IV or TIP II, the old tail markings
or not, choice of squadron patches on the base from the old patches to the
new and for the Mercs it was “hump back” or “slick back”. We tried to provide as much personalization as possible and we
believe that everyone was ecstatic with the final product.
So, is this the end?
We are so pleased with the finished product and the manner in which Island Enterprises handled their customer service that
we have agreed to continue our relationship and offer on an individual basis rather than group order your personalized
HERC or MERC model as well as any other aircraft you may have been associated with or interested in having a model of.
The order form is available in the Paraloft at www.tacamo.org. Questions about other aircraft may be directed to
[email protected].
We are currently working with them to provide other interesting products for the TACAMO Community that I am sure will
be Disired Items for your collection, so stay tuned as the announcement will be coming soon.
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T C V A S u m m e r N e w s l e t t e r 2 0 1 3!
Fallen Shipmates
P a g e 10
ADCS Jackie Kent Thompson VQ4 4/25/13
Walter Andrew Beattie VQ4
5/2/13
Don Sifford ATCS VQ4 5/15/13
AT Douglas Mitchell
VQ?
6/2/13
AVCM Michael Thompson unknown unknown
Additions to Passing page posted on tacamo.org
website since Spring 2013 Newsletter.
Hall of Fame Inductees Paver Ceremony” ... continued from front page
The other HoF members had visions and intentions as well and they made the TACAMO
community better by application of their determination and dedication. As pioneers, lifelong Sailors, and industry partners, they each changed the way things were, for the better.
Among them are the master mentor and one of our first TACAMO grown skippers, Bill
Harsanyi. And the MAN for manpower who helped build and maintain manning as a
maintenance expert, John Kilroy. Rick Filz stood up and ran the E-6 maintenance school
house. Frank Baker was the Herc tech rep who’s expertise was key in standing up squadrons.
These are just a few who MADE a big difference.
In the history of TACAMO, small groups of dedicated Sailors, with strong intentions,
accomplished great things that make us better.
✦ A group of young commanders and LCDRs had the intention to create a TACAMO
wing, reorganize the community in the post-Cold War days, and create a home here
in Oklahoma for the community. By their dedicated work and with lots of help, we
are homeported here today.
TCVA will begin the sale of
✦ A Chief Warrant Officer and a group of dedicated Sailors in his charge had the
other pavers in Herc Park,
intention to set this Herc here beside the Wing, do it by the book, and preserve it for
available to any and all
all future generations of Sailors. We are standing here today in Herc Park.
members of the TACAMO
✦ Commodore Irish Keilty had the intention to establish a walk or a wall of fame
Community to salute or
around the Herc. Plans were drawn up and estimates made but there wasn’t enough
memorialize themselves, family
time or dedication to make that a reality. Try though he did, the support was not
or friends as a fund raiser to
there---YET
support the TACAMO Hall of
✦ Commodore Baker had the intention to establish a TACAMO Hall of Fame. In his
Fame & Heritage Center.
time here, the TACAMO Community Veterans Association (TCVA) had the same
intention and a strong dedication to make it happen. Our Executive Director, Mike
Vos, a former TACAMO Sailor, had the intention of forming our organization and bringing Sailors and Family members
together. We set up and run reunions, connect Shipmates on our website, provide mentoring, and one day we intend to
establish a TACAMO Heritage Center. Mike and our Board of Directors including Secretary Cheryl Vos, also a former
Sailor, are the dedicated heart TCVA and the Hall of Fame. And members of the TACAMO community dedicated their
donations and Sailors volunteered time and TODAY we stand here about to unveil the fruits of that intention and that
dedication.
It is entirely fitting to create a memorial in recognition of great intentions acted out that made difference. This is just the
beginning. There are plenty of fine TACAMO Sailors, industry partners, and friends of TACAMO who will one day become Hall
of Famers, perhaps even a few young Sailors in the crowd today will be there too. May the Almighty bless their intentions and
ours, today and always.”
Pictured above are replica tiles mailed to the 2012 Hall of Fame Inductee, Spouse or senior family member.
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T C V A S u m m e r N e w s l e t t e r 2 0 1 3!
P a g e 11
ALL-CAPS MESSAGES ... no more By Sam Fellman
TCVA TTY Repairman ... point
Call it the message read ’round the world.
of view on the lower and upper case
article by Ron Gray
On May 8, the Navy’s personnel chief issued a policy directive likely unique in
the annals of naval messages that came before it — a bulletin that featured
lowercase letters.
For sailors who find it hard to get through all-caps messages or think that they
READ LIKE YOU’RE BEING SHOUTED AT, your time has come: The
Navy is shifting to a new message-routing system that is cheaper and easier to
operate and has the side benefit of sending messages that are easier to read.
The ability to mix upper- and lowercase
letters and special characters “makes the
readability better for the folks that are
actually monitoring in a chat room or
reading messages off a portal site,” said
James McCarty, the naval messaging
program manager at Fleet Cyber
Command who is overseeing the changes,
which oddly were first announced in an allcaps dispatch.
Naval messages — from routine
GENADMINs (general administration) and
MOVREPs (movement report) all the way
up to a Flash OPREP, sent to the nation’s
leaders during a crisis — are the tidings of
the fleet. Changing that age-old format has prompted plenty of feedback.
Younger personnel like it because it’s more readable and is similar to an email.
But there are holdouts — especially among the old guard who are accustomed
to reading their messages only in uppercase.
“You have a lot of folks that have been around for a long time and are used to
uppercase and they just prefer that it stay there because of the standardized
look of it,” McCarty said. “But the truth of it is, as we move forward, it’s
imminent.”
The Navy and other services have a long history with all-caps messages. Early
teletype machines, which the military started using in the 1850s, were made up
of only three rows of keys and did not allow for lowercase letters.
First remember that the inventor, Frank
Pearne stopped working on the TTY, which
was resumed by the Krum family who soon
had completion from Teletype Company who
quickly arose as the only competitor to
Morkrum. While Morkrum focused on
providing teleprinters to the
United States Military,
Teletype offered its machines
to civilians and military alike.
Teletype and Morkrum soon
merged their operations. In
1935, Teletype introduced its
most popular TTY machine,
Model 15. This sturdy,
durable cast-metal
transmitter became crucial to
U.S. military
communications in World
War II.
To include an additional 26
positions of the printer head
to accommodate lower case would mean that
the printer heard would have to be able to
change to positions not capable of the junction
boxes, the perferators would have to be
reconfigured to accommodate that as well.
Consequently the entire printer, which as you
know has or had 3400 parts that moved in all
directions. Consequently it was much easier to
leave the machine in all caps rather than upper
and lower case. Then, even if it was attempted
there was not guarantee it could be
accomplished.
Remember to provide your
written instructions to
family members about final
$20 gives you access to
distributions of TACAMO
memorabilia so it will end
u p i n t h e TA C A M O
Heritage Center
MORE
the following list on
tacamo.org website &
Go to http://tacamo.org/
TCVA/join.html
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